Not necessarily. There are many, many grades of stainless steel. Some hold an edge quite well. 440C ain’t so bad: in fact, I’ve got an older Benchmade Mini Griptillian that’s made with 440C (Benchmade = premium American made (well…95% of them) production knives. Also, Benchmade knifes are standard issue for the USMC.). Nowadays, Benchmade is making it’s Mini Grips, as well as many of their other premium knives with a better version of stainless steel known as 154cm. This stuff holds an edge very well and can be made sharper than most people have ever experiences in a knife. No exageration, either. I’ve got some Benchmade knives with 154cm stainless steel, and they’re what people call “scary sharp.” Today, the “hot” knife steel is S30V, which is considered to be the best of the best. It holds and edge better and sharpens sharper. (154cm can be made scary sharp, but S30V can be made insanely scary sharp.) S30V is also a type of stainless steel. Most likely, if it’s a modern knife, it is a type of stainless steel. Even more important that the type of stainless steel, is the way it’s been tempered. If it’s been done right, it’ll hold an edge.
I say, though, if you really want to get a good kitchen knife, get one from a good cutlery maker. Kershaw, for instance, makes some nice cooking knives. (there are many more and much better, too, but Kershaw does make some nice ones. I believe Alton Brown has his own Signature Kershaw Sontoku knife.) They’ll probably run you over $100 just for the Santoku, alone, but everytime you use it, you’ll appreciate it’s quality and build. Even better, would be a Benchmade kitchen knife, which they do make, but it’ll cost you $500 (“retail” – can be had for a mere $320 + shipping on ebay) for three a three piece set. It’s definitely worth it, though. Seriously, it is. They mastered the art of tempering steel. Buy a Benchmade kitchen knife, and you know you’ll be getting the highest grade American made steel in the highest quality production knife all made here in the US of A. (Oregon, to be more specific)
The outside forum discussion is mostly about non-stick Ultrex. BUT, if you search on cutlery you find a poor experience. I think this specific experience, together with the other unhappy folks, means I’m skeptical. Apparently absolutely HORRIBLE customer service (loved the no return allowed for shoddy merchandise because the person didn’t have a receipt, even though there’s a 3-year warranty and the stuff hadn’t EVEN BEEN SOLD at that point for three years). Great find, MichXelle.
KUDOS to Woot for allowing open commentary (even if negative). Maybe Bag-O-Cr@p level stuff here… …maybe.
I have nifes like these one but they are not so sharp now when my son use these for builing. Do these stay sharp for more longer time? I think these is cool for the price. Can these be sharpen? Like mortexly?
I’ll make a shoehorn outta your shin
I’ll make a lampshade of durable skin
And oh, don’t you know that I’m always feelin’ able
When I’m sittin’ home and I’m carving out your navel
im just a sittin’ here carving out your navel
When will I realize that this skin I’m in
Hey, it isn’t mine
And when will the kill be too much meat for me to hide on
Hey, I could really use a couple of hands
To complete one hell of a plant stand
Oh, and don’t you know that I’m caught here in the middle
Making rib cages into coffee tables
I’m just makin’ em into coffee tables
And when will I realize that this skin I’m in
Hey, it isn’t mine
And when will the thrill be too much meat for me to find anymore
Oh, because you know I can’t hide
But oh how hard I try
But this is just the shape I’m in, oh yeah
although I know I can’t hide
But oh how hard I try
But this is just the shape I’m in
oh yeah, oh yeah
i now realize that the message i posted was probably not the ideal first post. i must tell you that i am in no way homicidal. i just like the song. that is all.
OK. Really – I’m not crazy. That song just popped in my head when the main page opened…
ive learned so much about stainless steel tonight on this forum. ive decided to arm my robot with adamantium cutting weapons instead. thank you, wooters.
Since I use my knives daily, I won’t settle for less than an awesome knife. I’ll stick with my Global knives, they have never let me down and hold an edge GREAT!!!
I am in for a set. Is really is hard to chop up that irratating neighbor wihtout a good cleaver… LOL just kidding. I have been looking for a good cleaver to chop BBQ (Boston Butt or Pork Shoulder) for a while. They are hard to find these days. Now a nice set from woot. Thanks guys… I will be hacking in a week.
For a good cheap knife, go to your local restaurant supply store. About $15 will get you a mundial or comparable knife that’s dishwasher safe, made from good carbon steel, and that will hold a good edge.
Of course, the same advice applies for pots and pans too. Good + cheap cookware, head to a restaurant supply store. Won’t impress anyone with it’s looks, but it’ll get the job done better than 90% of what you can get at big box stores.
